The University of Iowa Center for Teaching’s Students as Partners program is wrapping up the academic year, cultivating inclusive, student-centered learning experiences across campus and beyond.
On April 5, Jasmyn Hoeger, a biology major, and Josie Mbaye, a science education and environmental science major, co-facilitated with Center for Teaching staff the plenary session, "Amplifying Student Voices: Establishing Transformative Student-Teacher Partnerships" at the recent Connecting K-12 and Higher Educator Conference. Drawing from their experiences collaborating alongside faculty, they examined how student-teacher partnerships can foster inclusive and equitable learning environments from K-12 through higher education. Hoeger and Mbaye advocated for positioning students as active partners in shaping their educational journeys through models like Students as Partners, service-based learning, authentic assignments, and gathering student feedback.
Meanwhile, neuroscience major Krushi Patel's work was featured on a national level through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) Learning Community Cluster (LCC2) April newsletter. As part of the Students as Partners program, Krushi observed an introductory chemistry course, offered insights on instructional methods, and suggested solutions like team-building exercises to promote equitable participation in group discussions.
Additionally, five student partners – Harry Bui, Jasmyn Hoeger, Krushi Patel, Josie Mbaye, and Lorena Perales – showcased their innovative work at the Excellence in Teaching & Learning (ETL) Project Showcase on April 18. They presented posters co-designed with faculty partners, highlighting approaches to promote teaching excellence and making introductory STEM courses more welcoming and engaging.
Through their leadership, insights, and engagement with the program, our student partners are driving transformative change and championing inclusive learning experiences centered on student success. As the academic year ends, we celebrate their remarkable accomplishments and the impact they have made on our campus community.